History of the grape: Let’s first clear up some confusion: Montepulciano is a grape. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a wine made from the grape, in the region of Abruzzo. Montepulciano is also a village in Tuscany, that happens to be nowhere near where the grape is grown. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is the name of a wine that has absolutely no Montepulciano in it (it’s Prugnolo Gentile, the local name for Sangiovese). So why is a grape named for a village so far away from where it’s actually grown? No one knows.

What we do know is that Montepulciano, the grape, can be traced back to the region for centuries, with written history in 1793 making reference to it in the Abruzzo village of Sulmona. It had been commercially for at least 200 years before finally becoming the DOC Montepulciano d’Abruzzo in Read more »

History of the grape: Let’s first clear up some confusion: Montepulciano is a grape. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a wine made from the grape, in the region of Abruzzo. Montepulciano is also a village in Tuscany, that happens to be nowhere near where the grape is grown. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is the name of a wine that has absolutely no Montepulciano in it (it’s Prugnolo Gentile, the local name for Sangiovese). So why is a grape named for a village so far away from where it’s actually grown? No one knows.

What we do know is that Montepulciano, the grape, can be traced back to the region for centuries, with written history in 1793 making reference to it in the Abruzzo village of Sulmona. It had been commercially for at least 200 years before finally becoming the DOC Montepulciano d’Abruzzo in 1968. It is responsible for a large amount of inexpensive, young, mass produced wine (when one sees “Montepulciano” by itself on a wine list, it’s usually one of these bottles). But there are also refined, quality productions, some that have even been aged for a number of years before release, that are well worth seeking out.

Regions where the grape is currently important: Abruzzo: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teamano DOCG, small amounts are also grown and blended in wines in the Marche, Puglia, Umbria, Latium, Molise and Emilia-Romagna.

Our version of this classic dish is straightforward and hearty, with layers of Ragu alla Bolognese and Béchamel Sauce .
Game plan: You can prepare this recipe a day ahead through step 3. Cover t... Read more »

Roasted poblano chiles stuffed with loads of cheese, battered with an airy egg coating, and fried until crispy equate to the Mexican version of comfort food. Chiles rellenos fillings can range from... Read more »

Why bother with jarred salsa when a smoky, spicy homemade batch is so simple? This fast, easy recipe uses the broiler for an extra layer of charred flavor and a blender to bring it all together. Us... Read more »

Za’atar is an Arabic word used to describe both a specific herb and a tangy blend of herbs and spices that varies according to region but includes the resinous herb za’atar, tart brick-red ground s... Read more »

Today, in addition to continuing my discussion about the state of the Puglian wine industry, I’ll also be taking a look at some of the perennial next-greatest unknown wines of Italy: Aglianico. I was fortunate to taste these wines, as well as the Pugli...

We got started last time with a short list of cellarable wines that won’t break the bank. I only touched on Portugal and Spain, and judging from the response, it looks like we’re going to have to dig a bit deeper to satisfy every palate out there!

Elite Daily reporter Kaylin Pound is a self-professed wine expert. But while one's palate is an indispensable part of one's ability to decipher the forward flavors, subtle hints and dazzling dashes weaved within the profile of a wine, that palate is o...

Amid a tongue-twisting litany of Italian wine varietal minutiae leading his recent article in Australia’s Financial Review, wine and drinks writer Tim White offered the wine-drinking masses a unique look into the emergence of Italian wines in the Land ...

This is a great moment to marvel at the sheer beauty of Italy’s unfathomably old vines in combination with volcanic soils: February is Italian Wine Appreciation Month on Snooth! The Etruscans and Greeks began planting vines in Italy around 2 BCE, and t...

You can't make shirts with it, but wine definitely tastes better with cotton.
Texas' farmers – some who've relied on cotton for years – are now turning to grapes as a source of income, so much so, The Wall Street Journal reported this past Monday, tha...

Sangiovese is touted as the most widely planted grape variety in Italy. It is most frequently associated with Tuscany; being the catalyst for Brunello, Chianti, and Vino Nobile de Montepulciano. However, Sangiovese is as much at home in Romagna as it i...

There are countless delicious wines you could enjoy with your Valentine this year, but this special holiday calls for more than just outstanding. You need a wine that tells a tale; one preferably told over a candle-lit dinner. With this in mind, here a...

Grapey and fresh on the nose with hints of balsamic herbs and blackberry fruit showing streaks of dark, oily minerals. medium plus bodied and rather raw on entry, this shows off bright acids and small if stiff tannins on the palate supporting lovely bl...

I have been a fan of di Majo Norante for some years (Molise, Italia) and have sampled many wines from this producer - all excellent value and high quality. Ramitello is something of a flagship offering. It is from the denominated area known as Bifern...

This is a fine full bodied Montepulciano d'Abruzzo as one can expect from this region in Italy. Deep concentrated dark fruit, well balanced acidity, nice mild tannins that you really can taste. For the price, this is great

The wine had a deep, ruby red color. 'Feuduccio' had a bouquet of dark ripe cherries, raisins, caramel, tobacco, licorice, and raspberry. On the palate, the wine was smooth, dry and a little bit fruity. Very harmonic and complex. The wine had a big bod...

Dark, leathery and spicy on the nose with hints of paprika and caraway adding details. This smells like Goulash. Smooth and focused in the mouth with more cut that one typically finds in Montepulciano. The palate is lively and transparent with light fr...

Beautiful Old World red that expresses the terroir of the Marche. I taste Italian tradition in every sip. Earthy leather on the nose, followed by a terroir-driven taste- leathery fruit through from the front palate to a juicy savoryness mid-palate thro...

Drink Now-Deep garnet-purple colour. Ripe cherry and tobacco leaf aromas with a touch of game. Medium-full body with good concentration of fruit and a medium to high level of balancing acidity. Medium+ level of grainy tannins. Long finish.
90 pts. The...

Yes - the June Public Holiday weekendFriday - 10th JuneI hosted a wine ... ... McGuigan The Shortlist Montepulciano - This was a surprise packet as the variety is pretty new to us down under, a very impressive wine given the youth of the vines and the newness of the brand good depth and length and quite well balanced rich flavour at AUD25 d...
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Produce Station, Ann Arbor, 4/2017. A strange but lovely red blend. It was consumed at Thanksgiving dinner, mostly if not exclusively be me. It definitely got better the longer it was in my glass. Great soft tannins with a long finish. Took 10 hours to empty the bottle.
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